SENIOR HURLING C/SHIPS: Lynch and Markham lead the way for Kilmaley

Kilmaley 1-13   Clarecastle 0-13

THE importance of experience was highlighted once again in this senior championship clash at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.

As Clarecastle looked to have the better of exchanges in the first half, Colin Lynch stood tall for Kilmaley at centre-back and even found time to fire over two important points, which helped the eventual winners to go to the break on level terms.
The introduction of Alan Markham for the second half proved vital and he played a huge part in the game’s only goal, a decisive score. Markham had signalled his intention to retire at the end of last season and didn’t play any hurling throughout the league. However, persistent appeals from management and players alike resulted in his return to training in the last two weeks.
“Look, it’s great to have Alan back. He won a great ball that maybe nobody else would have won and Mikey O’Neill finished to the net. Alan had a massive contribution in this win. We are delighted to have him back and, hopefully, he will be around for a few years yet,” said Kilmaley mentor John Carmody after the game.
“We were particularly disappointed with our performance in the first 20 minutes but in fairness to the lads, they finished the half well and got some great scores. We told them keep plugging away. It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but it’s early season yet and we haven’t a lot done. Hopefully when we play again, we will be well ready for the frey,” Carmody added.
Clarecastle manager Martin Sheedy, in his first season in charge of the Magpies felt his side could have been up a bit at half-time. “In the second half, we didn’t perform but to be fair to Kilmaley, they are good hurlers and overall maybe they deserved to win it. The goal was a great boost to them. They had one or two more goal chances and we had a few as well. They were better in the second half and, on that basis, deserved to win.”
Scores were slow to come in the opening half and at the end of the first quarter, it was 0-3 to 0-1 in Clarecastle’s favour. They were 0-6 to 0-3 in front with just four minutes remaining in the half but a strong finish from Kilmaley played a big part in this victory.
Centre-back Colin Lynch fired over two great points before a Daire Keane effort left the teams level at 0-6 each at the half-time whistle.
Both sides made changes for the second half with Kilmaley bringing in Markham and placing him at full-forward, while Clarecastle brought in David Greene and county minor Bobby Duggan to their attack. They had a couple of good scoring chances in the early minutes but inexperience cost them.
The crucial score came in the fifth minute of the half. Alan Markham sprinted to keep the ball in play when it looked to be going wide. His effort for goal brought an excellent save from Donogh Murphy but the ball broke to the unmarked Michael O’Neill who found the net.
By the three-quarter stage, Clarecastle had fought back to within a point of the winners but four in-a-row from Alan Markham, O’Neill and Cabey, who converted two placed balls, killed off the Magpies’ challenge.
Colin Lynch, Sean Talty, Martin O’Connor and substitute Markham did best for the winners. Seanie Moloney worked hard throughout for Clarecastle but they will be disappointed with their performance overall.

Kilmaley: Kieran Dillon; Martin O’Connor, Anthony Cahill, Sean Talty; Eoin Enright, Colin Lynch, John Clohessy; Kenneth Kennedy, Michael O’Neill; John Cabey, Daire Keane, Diarmuid McMahon; Brian McMahon, Conor Neylon and Eoin O’Malley.
Subs: Alan Markham for O’Malley (half-time); Cian Moloney for B McMahon (50 minutes); Noel Casey for Kennedy (61 minutes).
Scorers: John Cabey (0-6, all frees); Michael O’Neill (1-1), Colin Lynch (0-2), Conor Neylon, Daire Keane, Alan Markham (0-1 each).
Frees for: 15; wides: 15; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Colin Lynch (58 minutes).

Clarecastle: Donogh Murphy; Seanie Moloney, Mark McNamara, Kevin Clohessy; Stephen O’Halloran, Conor Plunkett, Patrick Kelly; Danny Scanlan, Tyrone Kearse; Ciarán O’Dwyer, Eric Flynn, Jonathon Clancy; Seanie Talty, Adam Healy, Eamonn Callinan.
Subs: Barry Duggan for Talty (half-time); David Greene for Healy (half-time); Dara Moloney for Flynn (38 minutes).
Scorers: Eamonn Callinan (0-5, 4f); Tyrone Kearse (1 65’), Jonathon Clancy (0-2 each); Patrick Kelly, Stephen O’Halloran, Bobby Duggan, David Greene (0-1 each).
Frees for: 12; wides: 10; 65s: 1.
Bookings: Mark McNamara (20 minutes).

Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.